Welfare Application Instructions for Iowa

Application Instructions

To apply for TANF in Iowa, there are several options available. To apply online, use OASIS. Applications can also be printed online. Completed applications can be mailed or hand-delivered to an applicants local county DHS office. Paper applications are also available in each DHS office. For more information, call 1-800-972-2017.

Available Benefits

TANF benefits are figured based on individual state guidelines and dependent on factors such as family size, earned and unearned income, and housing expenses. The Iowa TANF program is available to eligible residents for a maximum of 60 months (5 years). Benefits are paid by check or direct deposit. FIP cash benefit amounts are based on family size and total household income. The average FIP benefit in 2009 was $318 per month.

Am I Eligible?

In Iowa, TANF applicants must meet both the state and federal guidelines for the program. The federal government requires that individuals meet the monetary and non-monetary state guidelines, complete work-related activities, provide paternity information about the children in the household, and report as required by the state. The federal guidelines have been built into each state.s program, as this is required in order for states to receive the block grants that fund TANF. Therefore, it is really only necessary that applicants be aware of and meet the requirements as outlined by the state of Iowa. To read more about the federal TANF eligibility guidelines, click here.
In order to qualify for FIP in Iowa, applicants must participate in the PROMISE JOBS program, which is a training and work program that helps families move toward independence. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens who reside in Iowa and have a minor child living in the home who is 18 or younger. In order to receive TANF benefits in Iowa, Social Security Numbers must be submitted for all household members. Additionally, families must meet income limits and supply all information as requested.

General TANF information for Iowa

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federally funded program that helps American families by providing benefits, both financial and otherwise, to help keep family units intact. TANF benefits, sometimes referred to as welfare benefits, are intended to supplement a family.s earned and unearned income and can be used to purchase clothing, food, medication, and pay for housing and utility costs, for example. On the federal level, the Office of Family Assistance, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, oversees and funds the TANF program. State governments are responsible for designing and implementing their own welfare programs, including the determining eligibility, providing benefits, and distributing cash allotments. This page outlines the state requirements for TANF benefits. To learn more about the Federal TANF program and its requirements, click here.
The state of Iowa administers Federal TANF benefits through the Iowa Department of Human Services. To learn more about the Family Investment Program (FIP) in Iowa, click here.